Next chapter will conclude events on Tatooine, and perhaps be the voyage as well.

So everyone knows, I expect this will be my longest story yet, spanning all three of the prequel episodes. Could someone tell me if there's a 20 chapter maximum limit?

As always, if I've misspelled any names please tell me.

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars, or any of the locations, characters or alien monsters.

I don't understand why I change the disclaimer every time.

Qui-Gon was barely suppressing his surprise as M'Kael led him through the entrance to a saloon.

Just inside, by the doorway, they stopped, looking as though they were waiting for someone weak to leave, whom they could rob. M'Kael, leaning against the wall, took a death-stick from his pocket and lit up.

"What are you doing here? Who was that?" Qui-Gon kept his voice calm, but he was aware that Anakin had been left outside.

"Business to deal with." He nodded out the door. "Fancied an attendant. And to the tattooed guy? Never seen him before. More to the point, Qui-Gon, what are you doing here?"

Qui-Gon leaned close. M'Kael was more irritating than anyone else he knew.

"Let's not play games M'Kael. I don't resent taking over your mission to Naboo, but you aborted at the last minute for a reason."

M'Kael took the death-stick out of his mouth. "Like I said, business. An opportunity. So, what are you doing here?"

"We ran into… complications…-"

M'Kael nodded his understanding.

"-And the queen's ship was damaged in the escape. We are stranded here until we can find repairs."

"And that's why you were gambling for a slave? I see." M'Kael grinned and took another deep puff of death-stick. "You are becoming more like me every day."

Qui-Gon knew better than to make an insulting retort. Anger rarely solved anything. "He was going to win us the parts we need as well."

"So you were gambling for your ship as well?"

At this note M'Kael became more serious- at least, enough so to resemble a man who understood there was actually a problem. Reaching into his coat he produced a pocket book stuffed with notes and passed it to Qui-Gon.

The older Jedi leafed through it, surprised for the second time since their meeting.

"Where did you find this much money?"

"The Council has more money than they like people to know. I spent half, but there should be enough for ship parts."

Qui-Gon, lost for the briefest second in his surprise, came back to his senses and quickly said, "you realize that Anakin is still out there."

"I know. He's probably gone by now, in fact. No worries though, I know where he's heading."

He passed it off so casually that Qui-Gon could not doubt it. You didn't spend a huge sum on a slave that would be illegal on your home planet, and then allow their escape.

Qui-Gon moved on to his final point. "Your attacker was extremely skilled, M'Kael. You should be careful if he's after you." He dropped his voice. "I think, he could only have been a Sith Lord."

M'Kael took the final puff of his death-stick, and dropped the butt. "I did notice. I was, in fact, actually fighting him. And your point is immaterial. Firstly, I can beat anyone. Secondly…"

M'Kael stood up straight at this point, and the motion carried with it a sense of conclusion to their rushed conversation.

"Secondly, I don't think he's after me."

"Then whom?"

M'Kael was halfway through the door. "Anakin. It should be obvious, since there was no-one else with me."

Qui-Gon made to speak, but the sudden seriousness in M'kael's manner, and his eyes, stopped him. "I'm not playing cat and mouse all over the galaxy with this man. It started here; it ends here. Don't follow, Qui-Gon- he mustn't have any incentive to run again."

And M'Kael was gone through the door.

Barely ten minutes walk away, crouched on a balcony, the dark-robed, tattooed man waited, patiently and silently. He was quite a big man, but squatting down he could just hid his full body behind the balcony wall while still having enough height to peek over when he needed to.

The boy could return here in minutes or hours- he had no way of knowing which- but he would return. Not even a slave would leave without saying goodbye

For the sake of his master's orders, he would make it a brief goodbye indeed.

He heard a cry, and peeked over carefully.

False alarm.

Then he heard a beep. The noise took him a little off-guard, since his ears were searching outward and fighting above the din of everyday hustle and bustle, and this sound came from almost within his ears.

But it was his communication device. His brief shock over, he hit the button. The cold, unrelenting voice of Master Sideus.

"Change of plans, Maul. Return to your ship immediately."

"What is the issue?"

"M'kael is there, so you told me when you last reported. It is too much risk."

Maul got a little angry with this, but kept it from his voice. "With respect, Master, I am capable of defeating him."

The voice in his ear continued uncompromising, "This is not a debate, my young and unwise apprentice. M'Kael was never meant to have been drawn into this. Leave immediately."

That decided, Maul had no other option. To question Master Sideus' word was blasphemy. With a final peek over the balcony, he stood up in a black flurry of robe, and made effortlessly away.

End of Chapter 4

R&R everybody.